I'M THE FARMGIRL YOU CAN'T MESS WITH

Chapter 89: Mortgage Deed

Editor: Atlas Studios

“These are gathered by each family. Although it’s not enough, it’s better to return as much as possible. When the harvest comes next autumn, everyone will repay the remaining amount.” Liu He stuffed the silver that each family had voluntarily contributed into Mu Shi’s hands.

Although Mu Shi was relatively well-off, Shu Wanniang and Little Bowen had both fallen sick from the cold. Coupled with Mu Yangling’s injuries, he wouldn’t have much money left. As such, it was impossible for him to repay the medical fees paid by the Qi family. Madam Ma-Liu saw this and naturally did not want her nephew to suffer such a big disadvantage, so she went to look for Liu He behind Mu Shi’s back.

In the past few days, the refugees from the entire prefecture had arrived at the prefectural capital one after another. The villagers of Nearhill Village also learned about the situation everywhere from them. It could only be summed up in two words: extremely tragic.

Mingshui County suffered the most. Reason being, coming from Mount Jiexi, the Jin soldiers first passed by Mingshui County and Changju County. Since the county magistrate of Changju County guarded the city gate with the bailiffs and did not let the Jin soldiers enter, only the villages on the other side of Mount Jiexi suffered.

However, the county magistrate of Mingshui County abandoned his citizens and simply ran away. Not only did the Jin soldiers plunder the county and massacre the people there, but they also entered the various villages of Mingshui County via the open city gate. Below that, other than a small village that could only be reached by crossing Chef Mountain and another one with a hidden location that were spared, the other villages were all burned to ashes.

Nearhill Village was still considered alright, totaling 263 survivors because many had fled. In contrast, some villages had been completely massacred, while others only had 10 to 20 survivors.

This made the villagers of Nearhill Village even more grateful to Mu Yangling. If she had not led them, Nearhill Village might have become the second West Mountain Village.

Liu He said regretfully, “I don’t know how many people in West Mountain Village survived. I heard that it was burned to the ground and the village is covered in blood. Those damn barbarians didn’t even let off newborn children.”

As Nearhill Village was very close to West Mountain Village, many families had relatives there, so they inevitably felt sad when they heard the news.

Seeing that everyone was silent, Liu He tapped his pipe and raised his voice. “Alright, the living are more important. Dacang, what news did you find out from the government office? Did the magistrate say when the warehouse will be opened for disaster relief?”

Liu Dacang was Liu He’s eldest son. If nothing unexpected happened, he would take over as the patriarch of the Liu family and the village chief of Nearhill Village in the future.

Liu Dacang’s expression was a little solemn as he replied, “I’ve asked around. The government office refuses to say anything. There are already many commoners surrounded there. Later, when I privately pulled aside a bailiff to ask, he told me that the government office probably won’t open the warehouse to provide disaster relief.”

“What did you just say?” Liu Erqian jumped up. “How are we going to survive the winter if they don’t open the warehouse to provide disaster relief? Our grains have been snatched, and even our houses have been burned down…”

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